Digital cable TV receiver, diagnostic method for the digital cable TV receiver, and data structure of DVI status report

ABSTRACT

A host includes a plurality of Digital Visual Interface (DVI) ports. A controller is configured to receive a single DVI diagnostic request from a source external to the host, wherein the controller is further configured to collect DVI status information associated with each of the plurality of DVI ports in response to the single DVI diagnostic request.

This patent application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No.11/178,314 filed Jul., 12, 2005, which claims the benefit of the KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2004-0060360 filed on Jul. 30, 2004, both ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cable broadcast program receiver andtransmitter, and more particularly, to a digital cable TV receiver, adiagnostic method for the digital cable TV receiver, and a datastructure of a DVI status report.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Generally, a Digital Visual Interface (DVI) is a transmission standardestablished by a consortium called the Digital Display Working Group(DDWG), which has been created by a group of leaders in the computerindustry. The DVI is used to digitally connect a personal computer (PC)to a flat monitor. More specifically, the DVI is a standard fordigitally connecting signals exchanged between the PC and the monitor.The DVI has mainly been adopted to peripheral devices that are used bybeing connected to a PC, such as personal computers, office projectors,general plasma displays, electric boards. And, recently, the DVI hasalso been adopted in digital television (TV) receivers and cable digitaltelevision (TV) receivers. Before the DVI standard was developed,digital signals were exchanged by a complicated process. First, the PCcreates digital data. Then, even though the digital display device iscapable of receiving digital data, the digital data transmitted from thePC is converted to analog data, which is converted back to digital dataand then transmitted to the digital display device. Therefore, in orderto avoid such a complicated process, the DVI standard has been developedto allow the digital data created from the PC to be digitallytransmitted directly to the display device through a cable. In the DVIstandard, digital broadcast signals that are not compressed aretransmitted in a single direction.

Meanwhile, a cable broadcast system broadly includes a cable broadcaststation and a cable broadcast program receiver (or digital cable TVreceiver). Herein, the cable broadcast station transmits cable broadcastprograms, and the cable broadcast program receiver receives thetransmitted cable broadcast program. The cable broadcast station may bereferred to a SO head-end or a MSO head-end. The SO refers to a SystemOperator (SO) (i.e., the Local Cable TV System Operator), and the MSOrefers to a Multiple System Operator (MSO), which is a group of SO.

Moreover, the cable broadcast program receiver adopts an open cable,wherein a Point of Deployment (POD) module including a ConditionalAccess (CA) system is separated (or detached) from the main body. Forexample, the POD module uses a Personal Computer Memory CardInternational Association (PCMCIA) card which can be mounted onto andseparated from a main body slot of the cable broadcast program receiver.Therefore, the POD module may also be referred to as a cable card, andthe main body, wherein the POD module is inserted, may also be referredto as a host. In other words, a combination of the POD module and themain body is referred to as the cable broadcast program receiver.Herein, the host may be connected to other peripheral devices (e.g., aDVD player, a digital camera/camcorder, a set-top box, etc.) through aDVI link. And, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, at least one or moreperipheral devices may be connected. More specifically, when at leastone DVI terminal/port (or a plurality of DVI terminals/ports) isprovided by the host, at least one peripheral device (or a plurality ofperipheral devices) may be simultaneously connected to the host.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, one of a Digital Built-in TV and aDigital Ready TV corresponds to the host. FIG. 1 illustrates an exampleof the host being connected to a peripheral device through a single DVIlink. More specifically, an Output port of a set-top box (or a DVDPlayer) is connected to a DVI Input port of the host. FIG. 2 illustratesan example of the host being connected to a plurality of peripheraldevices through a plurality of DVI links, wherein a plurality of DVIInput ports is provided by the host. Referring to FIG. 2, a DVI Outputport of the Set Top box is connected to a first DVI Input port of thehost, and, simultaneously, a DVI Output port of a DVD Player isconnected to a second DVI Input port of the host. Finally, FIG. 3illustrates an example of both DVI Input/Output ports being provided ina random peripheral device. More specifically, both DVI Input/Outputports are provided in a Set Top box. Referring to FIG. 3, the DVI Outputport of the Set Top box is connected to the DVI Input port of the host,and the DVI Output port of a DVD Player (or another peripheral device)is connected to the Input port of the Set Top box.

Meanwhile, in an open cable standard, wherein the POD module isseparated from the main body, as described above, the host has adiagnostic function that can monitor each status of the host. Forexample, in Host-POD interface standard, a Generic Diagnostic Protocolis defined in a host-POD resource layer. More specifically, when thehost receives a request for verifying and reporting the DVI status fromthe POD module through the Generic Diagnostic Protocol, the hostverifies the DVI status and creates a syntax (DVI Status Report Syntax)so as to report the verified DVI status to the POD module.

However, according to the DVI Status Report Syntax, when a plurality ofperipheral devices is simultaneously connected to the host through theDVI port, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, only the DVI link statusinformation for one port can be transmitted to the POD module, and theDVI link status information for the remaining ports cannot betransmitted to the POD module. Furthermore, when DVI Input/Output portsboth exist within a peripheral device and when the host and anotherperipheral device is connected to the corresponding Input/Output ports,as shown in FIG. 3, only the DVI link status information for one portcan be transmitted to the POD module, and the DVI link statusinformation for the remaining ports cannot be transmitted to the PODmodule.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a digital cable TVreceiver, a diagnostic method for the digital cable TV receiver, and adata structure of a DVI status report that substantially obviate one ormore problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a digital cable TVreceiver, a diagnostic method for the digital cable TV receiver, and adata structure of a DVI status report that can transmit statusinformation of all of a plurality of DVI Input/Output ports to a PODmodule, when DVI link exists between a host and a plurality ofperipheral devices from an open cable type digital cable TV receiver,wherein the POD module is separated from the host.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital cable TVreceiver, a diagnostic method for the digital cable TV receiver, and adata structure of a DVI status report that can transmit all status type,information to the POD even when a plurality of peripheral devices issimultaneously connected to the host through DVI ports by using a DVIStatus Report Syntax within a Generic Diagnostic Protocol.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a digital cableTV receiver, a diagnostic method for the digital cable TV receiver, anda data structure of a DVI status report that can transmit information toa POD module as to whether the DVI port of the host having peripheraldevices connected thereto is a DVI Input port, a DVI Output port, or aDVI Input/Output port.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, adigital cable TV receiver includes a POD module, and a host devicecomprising a DVI controller and a plurality of DVI ports linked to aplurality of peripheral devices, respectively, wherein the DVIcontroller generates a DVI status report and transmits the DVI statusreport to the POD module when a diagnostic request for a DVI status isreceived from the POD module, wherein the DVI status report comprises aplurality of DVI status information associated with the plurality ofperipheral devices, respectively.

In another aspect of the present invention, a diagnostic method for adigital cable TV receiver having a plurality of DVI ports includesreceiving a diagnostic request for a DVI status from a POD module, andperforming a diagnostic function in response to the diagnostic requestby generating a DVI status report and transmitting the DVI status reportto the POD module, the DVI status report comprising a plurality of DVIstatus information associated with a plurality of peripheral deviceswhich are linked to the plurality of DVI ports, respectively.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a data structure of a DVIstatus report for use in a digital cable TV receiver includes aconnection count field indicating a number of a plurality of DVI portslinked to a plurality of peripheral devices, respectively, and aplurality of DVI status information associated with the plurality ofperipheral devices, respectively.

In another aspect of the present invention, a host comprises a pluralityof DVI ports, and a controller configured to receive a single DVIdiagnostic request from a source external to the host, wherein thecontroller is further configured to collect DVI status informationassociated with each of the plurality of DVI ports in response to thesingle DVI diagnostic request.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method comprises the stepsof receiving a single DVI diagnostic request, and collecting DVI statusinformation associated with each of a plurality of DVI ports in responseto the single DVI diagnostic request.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a communication cardcomprises a controller configured to forward a single DVI diagnosticrequest to a device external to the communication card, and thecontroller is further configured to receive DVI status informationassociated with each of the plurality of DVI ports in response to thesingle DVI request.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method comprises thesteps of forwarding a single DVI diagnostic request, and receiving DVIstatus information associated with each of a plurality of DVI ports inresponse to the single DVI diagnostic request.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a general example of a peripheral device beingconnected to a cable broadcast program receiver (or digital cable TVreceiver) by a single DVI link;

FIG. 2 illustrates a general example of a plurality of peripheraldevices being connected to the cable broadcast program receiver (ordigital cable TV receiver) by a plurality of DVI links;

FIG. 3 illustrates general example of a DVI-linked connection, when aDVI Input/Output port exists within the peripheral device connected tothe cable broadcast program receiver (or digital cable TV receiver) by aDVI link;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a message exchange protocol from aGeneric Diagnostic according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an expanded DVI Status Report Syntaxaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a digital cable TV receiver accordingto the present invention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of process steps for creating andtransmitting DVI status information according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In addition,although the terms used in the present invention are selected fromgenerally known and used terms, some of the terms mentioned in thedescription of the present invention have been selected by the applicantat his or her discretion, the detailed meanings of which are describedin relevant parts of the description herein. Furthermore, it is requiredthat the present invention is understood, not simply by the actual termsused but by the meaning of each term lying within.

The present invention relates to transmitting all status information toa POD module, when a plurality of peripheral devices are connected to ahost by DVI link in an open cable type digital cable TV receiver,wherein the POD module is separated from the host. Most particularly,the present invention relates to transmitting all status information toa POD module by expanding a DVI Status Report Syntax within a GenericDiagnostic Protocol, when a plurality of peripheral devices aresimultaneously connected to the host by DVI link.

In other words, wherein the POD module is separated from the main body,a diagnostic function is provided to allow each status of the host to bemonitored. The diagnostic function checks various statuses, such asoperation status of the host and connection status of the peripheraldevices. The Generic Diagnostic Protocol is defined to enable eachstatus information of the host to be monitored in real-time throughlocal broadcast stations (local, user) or cable broadcast stations(remote, MSO head-end). Herein, the Generic Diagnostic Protocol definesthe following diagnostics shown in Table 1 below: TABLE 1 Diagnostic IDDiagnostic 00 Set-Top memory allocation 01 Software version 02 Firmwareversion 03 MAC status 04 FAT status 05 FDC status 06 Current ChannelReport 07 1394 Port 08 DVI status 09-FF Reserved for future use

More specifically, when a request for diagnostic is transmitted to thehost from the POD module when the Diagnostic ID is ‘08’, the details ofthe request consist of verifying the DVI status of the host andreporting the verified DVI status to the POD module.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a message exchange protocol from aGeneric Diagnostic according to the present invention. In this example,the POD module transmits a diagnostic request (Diagnostic_req APDU) tothe host, and the host transmits the, diagnostic result (Diagnostic_cnfAPDU) to the POD module. More specifically, when the POD Module receivesa diagnostic command, the POD module transmits a diagnostic request(Diagnostic_req APDU) to the host. Herein, the diagnostic request may betransmitted to the POD module from the cable broadcast station, or maybe inputted directly to the POD module by a user using a remotecontroller. Alternatively, even when a diagnostic request is nottransmitted from the POD module, the system status may be regularly (orperiodically) verified from the host, and the corresponding results maybe transmitted to the POD module.

For example, under the assumption that a cable broadcast program is notdisplayed normally, and if a diagnostic command option is provided,which can be selected by a user through a remote controller or a menuscreen, the user may be able to select the diagnostic command option byusing the remote controller or the menu screen. If the user is in anenvironment in which he/she is unable to select the diagnostic commanddirectly, the user would contact the cable broadcast station by phone orthe Internet. Thereafter, the cable broadcast station will transmit adiagnostic command to the POD module of the corresponding digital cableTV receiver.

Meanwhile, the host receiving the diagnostic request (Diagnostic_reqAPDU) from the POD module verifies the status of each diagnostic itemcorresponding to the Diagnostic ID. Then, the host reports the verifiedresults (Diagnostic_cnf APDU) to the POD module. The POD module mayeither transmit the verified results (Diagnostic_cnf APDU) received fromthe host to the cable broadcast station or may display the verifiedresults (Diagnostic_cnf APDU) to the user through an OSD Diagnosticapplication of the host. For example, if a bi-directional transmissioncan be performed between the cable broadcast station and the digitalcable TV receiver, the diagnostic results are transmitted to the cablebroadcast station through OOB. At this point, the diagnostic result maybe simultaneously transmitted to the cable broadcast station anddisplayed on the TV screen through the OSD Diagnostic application.

In case the digital cable TV receiver is uni-directional, the diagnosticresult is displayed onto the TV screen through the OSD Diagnosticapplication. And, when the user notifies the cable broadcast station ofthe displayed contents, the cable broadcast station performs operationsin accordance with the diagnostic results (e.g., door-to-door orwireless/wired after-services). In the present invention, the GenericDiagnostic Protocol is expanded so that status information for all ofthe peripheral devices connected to the host by DVI link is transmittedto the host, when a Diagnostic ID requiring the DVI status to beverified (i.e., 0×8) is included in the diagnostic request(Diagnostic_req APDU). More specifically, among the Generic DiagnosticProtocol, the DVI Status Report Syntax for reporting the DVI status tothe POD module is expanded in the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an expanded DVI Status Report Syntaxaccording to the present invention. Herein, a connection_count field, aconnection_no field, and a connection_type field are newly defined, anda repetition statement consisting of a FOR loop is newly included.Referring to FIG. 5, a connection_status field indicates whether aconnection exists on the DVI port. For example, when theconnection_status field value is ‘00₂’, then DVI connection does notexist. The connection_count field is allocated with 8 bits and indicatesthe number of DVI links, when peripheral devices are connected to thehost by DVI link. In other words, the connection_count field is includedin the statement when the connection_status field value is not equal to‘0’. For example, in case of the examples shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3,the connection_count field value is ‘2’.

The FOR repetition statement is used for transmitting the statusinformation of all peripheral devices to the POD module, when aplurality of peripheral devices is connected to the host by DVI link.The number of repetitions of the FOR loop is equal to the number ofperipheral devices connected to the host by DVI link (i.e., theconnection _count field value). For example, when two peripheral devicesare connected to the host by DVI link (as shown in FIG. 2), or when oneperipheral device is connected to the host by DVI link and anotherperipheral device is connected to the first device by DVI link (as shownin FIG. 3), the FOR loop is repeated twice. More specifically, each timethe FOR loop is performed, the status information for one DVI link istransmitted to the POD module. And, when the FOR loop is repeated twice,the status information for the plurality of peripheral devices istransmitted to the POD module.

The connection _no field is allocated with 8 bits and is located withinthe FOR repetition statement. The connection _no field is defined toindicate an index of the DVI link status information that is currentlybeing transmitted. For example, when two DVI Input ports are provided inthe host, and when it is assumed that a peripheral device is connectedto each of the DVI Input ports, the connection _no field indicateswhether the DVI link status information that is currently beingtransmitted is the status information of the first DVI Input port or thestatus information of the second DVI Input port. The connection_typefield is allocated with 2 bits and is also located within the FORrepetition statement. The connection type field indicates the connectiontype between the corresponding peripheral device and the host for eachDVI link. In other words, the connection_type field indicates whetherthe DVI port of the host connected to the corresponding peripheraldevice is a DVI Input port, a DVI Output port or a DVI Input/Outputport.

In the shown example, a connection type is defined in accordance withthe connection_field type value. More specifically, ‘00₂’ indicates theDVI Input port (i.e., an input connection only), ‘01₂’ represents theDVI Output port (i.e., an output connection only), and ‘10₂’ indicatesthe DVI Input/Output port (i.e., an input/output connection).Furthermore, ‘11₂’ represents an unused (or reserved) status. In theexample shown in FIG. 1, the connection_type field value is ‘00₂’. Inother words, a DVI Input port is formed in the host, and a peripheraldevice is connected to the DVI Input port. The value assigned to the DVIport is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and thevalues may vary in accordance with the system designer's (or author's)preference.

Other fields included in the FOR loop are the fields allocated withinthe conventional DVI Status Report Syntax. Such fields include ahost_HDCP_status field, a Device_HDCP_status field, a video_formatfield, a horizontal_lines field, a vertical_lines field, ascan_rate_field, an aspect_ratio field, and a prog_inter_type field.More specifically, the host_HDCP_status field indicates whether an HDCPis enabled within the DVI link. (Herein, ‘HDCP’ stands for aHigh-bandwidth Digital Content Protection standard.) For example, whenthe host_HDCP_status field value is ‘00₂’, the HDCP is not enabled. TheDevice_HDCP_status field indicates the HDCP status of the peripheraldevice connected to the host through the DVI port.

The video_format field indicates the current video format used on theDVI port. The horizontal_lines field indicates the number of horizontallines associated with the video format on the DVI link, and thevertical_lines field indicates the number of vertical lines associatedwith the video format on the DVI link. The scan_rate field indicates thescan rate associated with the video format on the DVI link, and theaspect_ratio field indicates the aspect ratio associated with the videoformat on the DVI link. Finally, the prog_inter_type field indicateswhether the video is either progressive or interlaced on the DVI link.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the POD module transmits a diagnostic request(Diagnostic_req_APDU) to the host requesting the host to verify andreport the DVI status, the host checks the DVI status and transmits theresult (Diagnostic_cnf_APDU) to the POD module in a DVI Status ReportSyntax form shown in FIG. 5. More specifically, in the connection_statusfield, the field value indicates whether a DVI link exists. And, whenthe connection_status field is not ‘0’, i.e., when at least one DVI linkexists, the number of DVI links is indicated in the connection_statusfield. Subsequently, the FOR loop is repeated as much as the number ofDVI links indicated in the connection_status field. Each time the FORloop is performed, a status information for each corresponding DVI linkis created. In other words, a connection _no field, a connection_typefield, a host_HDCP_status field, a Device_HDCP_status field, and a videoformat information for each DVI link are created. Herein, the videoformat information includes horizontal_lines information, vertical_linesinformation, scan_rate information, aspect_ratio information, andprog_inter_type information.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a digital cable TV receiver accordingto the present invention. The digital cable TV receiver broadly includesa host 100, and a POD module 200 that can be mounted to or dismounted(or separated) from a slot of the host 100. The host 100 may either beused to receive cable broadcast programs only or be used to receive alltypes of broadcast programs including cable broadcast programs,terrestrial broadcast programs, and satellite broadcast programs. FIG. 6illustrates an example of a cable digital television that can receiveboth cable and terrestrial broadcast programs.

In addition, there are two types of data broadcast program transmissionmethods, wherein data broadcast programs such as stocks information orweather forecast are transmitted. More specifically, an Out Of Band(OOB) method and a DOCSIS Set-top Gateway (DSG) method are proposed as amethod for upstream services within an open cable. The data broadcastprogram may be viewed at the moment a viewer views the television (TV)and selects a desired program. Alternatively, the data broadcast programmay be viewed when the viewer directly interacts with the broadcastprogram or when the viewer selects the information he or she needs.

The OOB method relates to a transmission method between intersectequipments within a cable broadcast station (head-end) and a Set-Topbox. The DSG method relates to a transmission method between a cablemodem control system of a cable broadcast station and a DOCSIS-basedcable modem within a Set-Top box. The DOCSIS standard uses cable modemto allow data to be transmitted. The example of a digital cable TVreceiver using the OOB/DSG combined method is shown in FIG. 6. However,this is only one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention,and one of an OOB-only digital cable TV receiver and a DSG-only cablebroadcast program may be used according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of process steps for creating andtransmitting DVI status information according to the present invention.Hereinafter, the operations of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 7. More specifically, in thehost 100, a tuner 101 tunes only a specific channel frequency fromterrestrial AudioNideo (AN) broadcasting, which is transmitted throughan antenna, and cable AN broadcasting, which is transmitted by In-bandthrough a cable. Then, the tuned channel frequency is transmitted to afirst demodulator 102. Since each of the terrestrial broadcasting andthe cable broadcasting has a different transmission method, each of thedecoding methods within the first demodulator 102 is also different fromone another. In other words, the terrestrial AN broadcasting isdemodulated to a Vestigial Sideband (VSB) Modulation method andtransmitted accordingly, and the cable AN broadcasting is demodulated toa Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) method and transmittedaccordingly. Therefore, when the channel frequency tuned from the tuner101 is a terrestrial broadcast channel frequency, the tuned channelfrequency is demodulated to a VSB method from the first demodulator 102.Alternatively, when the channel frequency tuned from the tuner 101 is acable broadcast channel frequency, the tuned channel frequency isdemodulated to a QAM method from the first demodulator 102.

In case of the terrestrial broadcasting, the demodulated signaltransmitted from the first demodulator 102 is transmitted to ademultiplexer 103. And, in case of the cable broadcasting, thedemodulated signal is transmitted to the demultiplexer 103 through thePOD module 200 mounted on the slot. The POD module 200 includes aConditional Access (CA) system for preventing high value-added broadcastcontents from being copied and for providing restricted access. The PODmodule 200 is also referred to as a cable card. When a scramble occursin the cable A/V broadcasting, the POD module descrambles the cable A/Vbroadcasting, which is then transmitted to the demultiplexer 103. Whenthe POD module 200 is not inserted in the slot, the cable A/Vbroadcasting demodulated from the first demodulator 102 is directlytransmitted to the demultiplexer 103. In this case, the scrambled cableA/V broadcasting cannot be descrambled, and therefore the viewers areunable to view the broadcast program normally.

The demultiplexer 103 receives the multiplexed signal and separates themultiplexed signal to a video signal and an audio signal. Thereafter,the demultiplexer 103 transmits the separated signals to a decoder 104.The decoder 104 recovers the compressed A/V signal to its initial stateby using a video decoding algorithm and an audio decoding algorithm,respectively, and then outputs the recovered signal for display.Meanwhile, a second tuner 105 tunes a specific channel frequency amongthe data broadcasting transmitted through cable by the DSG method andtransmits the tuned channel frequency to a second demodulator 106. Thesecond demodulator 106 demodulates the DSG type data broadcasting, whichis then transmitted to a CPU 110. Moreover, a third tuner 107 tunes aspecific channel frequency among the data broadcasting transmittedthrough cable by the OOB method and transmits the tuned channelfrequency to a third demodulator 111. The third demodulator 111demodulates the OOB type data broadcasting by using a Quartenary PhaseShift Key (QPSK) method, which is then transmitted to the POD module200. More specifically, since the OOB type uses the QPSK transmissionmethod, a receiving end also uses a QPSK type modulation.

Furthermore, when a bidirectional telecommunication between the cablebroadcast station and the digital cable TV receiver can be performed,the information (e.g., paid program subscription, Diagnostic informationof the host, etc.) transmitted from the digital cable TV receiver to thecable broadcast station is transmitted by one of the OOB method and theDSG method. This is why a switching unit 108 is provided herein. Morespecifically, when the OOB type transmission is used, user informationor System Diagnostic information is transmitted to a modulator 109through the POD module 200 and the switching unit 108. Then, theinformation is modulated by using the QPSK method from the modulator109, which is then transmitted to the cable broadcast station throughcable. On the other hand, when using the DSG type transmission, theinformation is transmitted to the modulator 109 through the CPU 110 andthe switching unit 108. Thereafter, the information is modulated byusing a QAM-16 method from the modulator 109, which is then transmittedto the cable broadcast station through cable.

Meanwhile, the CPU 110 parses the Diagnostic_req APDU, which istransmitted from the POD module 200 (S201). Then, the CPU 110 verifieswhether ‘0×08’ is included within the Diagnostic ID (S202). When the0×08 is included, the DVI status is verified by using a DVI controller120, and the verified result is transmitted to the POD module 200. Morespecifically, the DVI controller 120 first verifies whether peripheraldevices are connected to the host by DVI link and also verifies thenumber of the connected peripheral devices, so as to set up (ordetermine) the connection_status field value and the connection _countfield value. Subsequently, the DVI controller 120 determines whether theconnection_status field value is ‘0’ (S203). When the connection_statusfield value is ‘0’, there are no peripheral devices connected to thehost by DVI link. Accordingly, the process step is skipped to Step 207,thereby transmitting a Diagnostic_cnf APDU to the POD module 200, whichindicates that no DVI status information is included.

In the above-described Step 203, when the connection_status field valueis not ‘0’, at least one peripheral device is connected to the host byDVI link, and so the process step proceeds to Step 204. Thereafter, avariable i is initialized to ‘0’ so as to determine whether the value ofthe variable i is lower (or smaller) than the connection _count fieldvalue (S205). The variable i is a value that is compared with theconnection _count field value in order to transmit all of the DVI linkstatus information of more than one peripheral devices to the PODmodule. Herein, the variable i is increased by ‘1’ each time the FORloop is performed. Therefore, in the above-described Step 205, when thevalue of the variable i is lower than the connection _count field value,this indicates that there still remain DVI link status information whichhave not been transmitted to the POD module 200. At this point, theprocess proceeds to Step 206, wherein the connection _no field, theconnection_type field, the host_HDCP_status field, thedevice_HDCP_status field, and the video format information are created.The video format information includes horizontal_lines information,vertical_lines information, scan_rate information, aspect_ratioinformation, and prog_jnter_type type information. In other words, theabove-described Step 204 to Step 206 correspond to the FOR looprepetition statement.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, an assumption is made that the statusinformation of the first DVI Input port of the host is first created,and that the status information of the second DVI Input port of the hostis created afterwards. In this case, the connection _count field valueis set to ‘2’. And, since the value of the variable i is determined tobe equal to ‘0’ in Step 204, the value of the variable i is determinedto be lower than the connection _count field value (i.e., 0<2) in Step205. Accordingly, in Step 206, the connection _no field, theconnection_type field, the host_HDCP_status field, the device_HDCP_status field, and the video format information corresponding tothe first DVI Input port are created. Then, the value of the variable iis increased by ‘1’, and the process proceeds to Step 205.

At this point, since the value of the variable i becomes ‘1’, the valueof the variable i is determined once again to be lower than theconnection _count field value (i.e., 1<2) in Step 205. Accordingly, inStep 206, the connection _no field, the connection_type field, thehost_HDCP_status field, the device_HDCP_status field, and the videoformat information corresponding to the second DVI Input port arecreated. Then, the value of the variable i is increased once again by‘1’, and the process proceeds to Step 205. At this point, since thevalue of the variable i becomes ‘2’, the value of the variable i isdetermined to be not lower than the connection _count field value (i.e.,2=2) in Step 205. And so, the process proceeds to Step 207. In Step 207,the status information for all of the DVI links of the host, which iscreated each time the FOR loop is performed, is included in theDiagnostic_cnf APDU, which is then transmitted to the POD module 200.

As described above, the process of creating and transmitting DVI statusinformation may either be performed by using hardware or performed byusing middleware or software. Also, the DVI controller 120 may either beincluded in the CPU 110 or formed externally, as shown in FIG. 6.Additionally, the present invention may be applied to all types oftelevision receivers and Set-Top boxes supporting cable broadcastprograms. Most particularly, the present invention can be applied to alltypes of digital cable TV receivers adopting the open cable standard.Meanwhile, preferred embodiments have been proposed in the descriptionof the present invention. Therefore, when considering the technicaldifficulty of the present invention, those skilled in the art are fullycapable of modifying the present invention so as to propose otherembodiments of the present invention. Evidently, it will be apparentthat such modifications do not depart from the scope and spirit of thepresent invention.

As described above, in the digital cable TV receiver, the diagnosticmethod for the digital cable TV receiver, and the data structure of aDVI status report according to the present invention, when a POD modulerequests a host to perform diagnostics of a DVI status and transmit theresults back to the POD module, and when a plurality of peripheraldevices are connected to the host by DVI link, the host verifies thestatus of all DVI links, creates the corresponding DVI statusinformation, and transmits all information to the POD module. Thus, thepresent invention is capable of resolving the problems lying in therelated art, wherein status information for only a single DVI link canbe transmitted to the POD module, even when a plurality of devices areconnected to the host.

In addition, the present invention expands a Diagnostic Status ReportSyntax within a Generic Diagnostic Protocol, so as to create the statusinformation for all of the DVI links for the connections within the hostand to transmit the status information to the POD module, thereby,facilitating the expansion and providing compatibility of the DiagnosticStatus Report Syntax, so that it can be applied to all types of digitalcable TV receivers. Furthermore, by adding information on whether thecorresponding DVI port formed in the host is a DVI Input port, a DVIOutput port or a DVI Input/Output port in each DVI link, which createsthe status information, the DVI status information can be transmittedwith more accuracy.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A host comprising: a plurality of Digital Visual Interface (DVI)ports; and a controller configured to receive a single DVI diagnosticrequest from a source external to the host, wherein the controller isfurther configured to collect DVI status information associated witheach of the plurality of DVI ports in response to the single DVIdiagnostic request.
 2. The host of claim 1, wherein the controller isfurther configured to forward the DVI status information of more thanone of the DVI ports in at least one DVI status report.
 3. The host ofclaim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to include a firstfield in the at least one DVI status report that indicates the number ofDVI ports for which DVI status information is forwarded.
 4. The host ofclaim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to include arepetition statement in the at least one DVI status report that allowsthe DVI status report to transfer DVI status information associated witha DVI port with each execution of the repetition statement.
 5. The hostof claim 1, wherein the DVI status information identifies acorresponding DVI port from among the plurality of DVI ports.
 6. Thehost of claim 1, wherein the DVI status information identifies whether aDVI port associated with the DVI status information is one of a DVIinput port, a DVI output port, and a DVI input/output port.
 7. The hostof claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to extract adiagnostic identifier from the single DVI diagnostic request andassociate the identifier with each of the plurality of the DVI ports. 8.The host of claim 1, wherein the DVI status information includes atleast one of connect status information indicating whether a connectionexists on the DVI port, host HDCP status information indicating whethera HDCP is enabled on the DVI link, device HDCP status informationindicating a HDCP status of the peripheral device connected to the host,video format information indicating a current video format used on theDVI port.
 9. The host of claim 8, wherein the video format informationincludes at least one of horizontal_lines information, vertical_linesinformation, aspect_ratio information, prog_inter_type information. 10.A method comprising the steps of: receiving a single Digital VisualInterface (DVI) diagnostic request; and collecting DVI statusinformation associated with each of a plurality of DVI ports in responseto the single DVI diagnostic request.
 11. The method of claim 10,further comprising creating at least one DVI status report forforwarding the DVI status information of more than one of the DVI ports.12. The method of claim 1 1, further comprising creating a first fieldin the at least one DVI status report that indicates a number of DVIports for which DVI status information is forwarded.
 13. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising creating a repetition statement in the atleast one DVI status report in order to allow the DVI status report totransfer DVI status information associated with a DVI port with eachexecution of the repetition statement.
 14. The method of claim 10,further comprising creating a second field in the DVI status informationthat identifies a corresponding DVI port from among the plurality of DVIports.
 15. The method of claim 10, further comprising creating a thirdfield in the DVI status information that identifies whether a DVI portassociated with the DVI status information is one of a DVI input port, aDVI output port, and a DVI input/output port.
 16. The method of claim10, further comprising: extracting a diagnostic identifier from the DVIdiagnostic request; and associating the identifier with each of theplurality of the DVI ports.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein the DVIstatus information includes at least one of connect status informationindicating whether a connection exists on the DVI port, host HDCP statusinformation indicating whether a HDCP is enabled on the DVI link, deviceHDCP status information indicating a HDCP status of the peripheraldevice connected to the host, video format information indicating acurrent video format used on the DVI port.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein the video format information includes at least one ofhorizontal_lines information, vertical_lines information, aspect_ratioinformation, prog_inter_type information.
 19. A communication cardcomprising: a controller configured to forward a single DVI diagnosticrequest to a device external to the communication card; and thecontroller is further configured to receive DVI status informationassociated with each of the plurality of DVI ports in response to thesingle DVI diagnostic request.
 20. The communication card of claim 19,wherein the controller is further configured to receive the DVI statusinformation of more than one of the DVI ports through at least one DVIstatus report.
 21. The communication card of claim 20, wherein thecontroller is further configured to retrieve information in a firstfield in the at least one DVI status report that indicates the number ofDVI ports for which DVI status information is received.
 22. Thecommunication card of claim 20, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to execute a repetition statement in the at least one DVIstatus report so that DVI status information associated with a DVI portis retrieved with each execution of the repetition statement.
 23. Thecommunication card of claim 19, wherein the DVI status informationidentifies a corresponding DVI port from among the plurality of DVIports.
 24. The communication card of claim 19, wherein the DVI statusinformation identifies whether a DVI port associated with the DVI statusinformation is one of a DVI input port, a DVI output port, and a DVIinput/output port.
 25. The communication card of claim 19, wherein thecontroller is further configured to insert a diagnostic identifier inthe single DVI diagnostic request.
 26. The communication card of claim19, wherein the DVI status information includes at least one of connectstatus information indicating whether a connection exists on the DVIport, host HDCP status information indicating whether a HDCP is enabledon the DVI link, device HDCP status information indicating a HDCP statusof the peripheral device connected to the host, video format informationindicating a current video format used on the DVI port.
 27. Thecommunication card of claim 26, wherein the video format informationincludes at least one of horizontal_lines information, vertical_linesinformation, aspect_ratio information, prog_inter_type information. 28.A method comprising the steps of: forwarding a single Digital VisualInterface (DVI) diagnostic request; and receiving DVI status informationassociated with each of a plurality of DVI ports in response to thesingle DVI diagnostic request.
 29. The method of claim 28, furthercomprising receiving the DVI status information of more than one of theDVI ports through at least one DVI status report.
 30. The method ofclaim 29, further comprising retrieving information in a first field inthe at least one DVI status report that indicates a number of DVI portsfor which DVI status information is received.
 31. The method of claim29, further comprising executing a repetition statement in the at leastone DVI status report so that DVI status information associated with aDVI report is retrieved.
 32. The method of claim 28, further comprisingretrieving information in a second field in the DVI status informationthat identifies a corresponding DVI port from among the plurality of DVIports.
 33. The method of claim 28, further comprising retrievinginformation in a third field in the DVI status information thatidentifies whether a DVI port associated with the DVI status informationis one of a DVI input port, a DVI output port, and a DVI input/outputport.
 34. The method of claim 28, further comprising: inserting adiagnostic identifier in the DVI diagnostic request.
 35. The method ofclaim 28, wherein the DVI status information includes at least one ofconnect status information indicating whether a connection exists on theDVI port, host HDCP status information indicating whether a HDCP isenabled on the DVI link, device HDCP status information indicating aHDCP status of the peripheral device connected to the host, video formatinformation indicating a current video format used on the DVI port. 36.The method of claim 35, wherein the video format information includes atleast one of horizontal_lines information, vertical_lines information,aspect_ratio information, prog_inter_type information.